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At top is Simon Dale's DIY hobbit house in Wales' "first authorized 'low-impact' ecovillage." The home is their second foray into hobbit living. Several years prior, Simon Dale and his friends and family built the lovely green "Hobbit House" in Wales seen in the photo second from top.

Some key points of the design and construction (of the original hobbit house):

Dug into hillside for low visual impact and shelter Stone and mud from diggings used for retaining walls, foundations etc. Frame of oak thinnings (spare wood) from surrounding woodland Reciprocal roof rafters are structurally and aesthetically fantastic and very easy to do Straw bales in floor, walls and roof for super-insulation and easy building Plastic sheet and mud/turf roof for low impact and ease Lime plaster on walls is breathable and low energy to manufacture (compared to cement) Reclaimed (scrap) wood for floors and fittings Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere (windows, burner, plumbing, wiring…) Woodburner for heating - renewable and locally plentiful Flue goes through big stone/plaster lump to retain and slowly release heat Fridge is cooled by air coming underground through foundations Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light Solar panels for lighting, music and computing Water by gravity from nearby spring Compost toilet Roof water collects in pond for garden etc.

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Early on, artist Laurie Lipton studied 17th century Dutch masters to develop her own unique style of pencil drawing. Later, "she began developing her very own peculiar drawing technique building up tone with thousands of fine cross-hatching lines like an egg tempera painting". Her new show at Last Rites Gallery in New York City, The Carnival of Death, explores the subject of death in beautiful detail. The show runs October 1 to October 23, 2011.

When I visited Mexico in order to see The Day Of The Dead festival some years later, I couldn't help feeling envious of their approach to mortality. Families gathered on graves and picnicked, whole villages turned up with food for households in mourning. Death was treated as normal, even silly. Candied skulls grinned in their hundreds and skeletons danced in a fair-ground atmosphere. I decided to rebel against my heritage and create drawings inspired by the mood and atmosphere of the Mexicans. I decided to get in-touch with my bare bones. My culture runs from death, screaming. We worship youth, beauty and the illusion that we have all the time in the world. We frantically face-lift and botox, and throw pills, creams and money at death. We fool ourselves into thinking that death only happens to other people & only losers die. Skulls always look like they're laughing. Maybe the joke is on us?

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He's the president of Montana's Eagle Forum who called homosexuality an "abomination" and testified to stop that state's cities from enacting non-discrimination legislation.

Well, activist D Gregory Smith informs us that Himes has been charged with six felonies, including theft and fraud for allegedly bilking an associate of $150,000 to fund a phony company.

While many of us cheer the downfall of our ideological enemies, Smith teaches us why we should have more class:

If Himes is guilty, it means that he separates personal and public morality in a way that's of personality disorder proportions.

If he's guilty, it means that he has a narcissistic ability to separate himself from the message of morality he presents as a pastor in the Christian tradition. He's exempt.

If he's guilty, it's more than simple hypocrisy- it means that the Ten Commandments have not been internalized- they don't apply to him. Arguably, there are many interpretations to the scriptures, but most scholars agree that when it is written,"Thou Shalt Not Steal" there's really not much wiggle room....Now here comes the bittersweet part: I also feel sorry for the guy. I can't help it.

If he's able to separate himself so completely from his message, then he probably has a mental illness. He probably hasn't formed life-giving attachments in his life. He probably never progressed very far developmentally- the tormented kid on the playground who becomes the bully when he has a little bit of power- and religion gives pastors more than just a little bit. The cycle of abuse, continued.

According to The Missoulian, Himes and a partner, Jeb Bryant, told a potential investor they owned a business, received the aforementioned investment and then ran off with the dough.

Himes also apparently stretched the truth about being a pastor: "Himes claims to have been ordained as a pastor by Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel, where he served for a few years, said Pastor Kevin Horton. But Himes split from the chapel, Horton said, and proclaimed himself pastor of the Big Sky Christian Center, which lists its address as Himes' post office box."